I'm out and about by 5,30am waiting for the sun to rise. I walked by the Ita Thao Lakeside Trail which was about 80m from the hotel. The trail to is 400m an termiates at the Ita Thao Wharf.
We head to Songlin Ting, also known as the Monster Village, a Japanese styled shopping district featuring monster themed souvenir shops, food stalls and bakeries.
We head to Songlin Ting, also known as the Monster Village, a Japanese styled shopping district featuring monster themed souvenir shops, food stalls and bakeries.
Monster chilling out
Try a freshly made monster cream puff for NT10 (USD 0.34)
The very popular bakery
Really delicious charcoal roasted chickens at NT50 each (USD1.69). The skin is flavorful and the meat juicy and tasty.
There are also vendors selling own-farm produce. Above picture: Sharks Fin Melon. If you can't read Chinese, the sign says "Please do not ask me. I am a shark's fin melon, not a water melon. Shark's Fin Melon is me." Haha...
Baby apples with a star center! They are extremely sweet and the translucent centers are pure apple nectar. The seeds are white and soft and edible.
There are wood artisans who handcraft accessories from Hinoki (Cypress) Wood. It has a wonderful musky aroma and has natural antibacterial properties and therefore are immune to mould. Hinoki items are traditionally Japanese, but the skill has been passed down to Taiwanese who sell the same quality items at a fraction of the price. Hinoki items last a lifetime and are passed down from generation to generation. I bought 10 pairs of chopsticks for NT200 (USD 6.76) and a stir-frying ladle for NT200 as well.
We then made a quick stop at the Yi Chung Night Market. Say Hi to the giant pear promoting some pear products
We then proceeded to Gulu-Gulu in Taizhong City for dinner, an aboriginal restaurant that serves authentic Paiwanese food. The Paiwanese are an indigenous tribe in Taiwan who arrived at the eastern most part of the country hundreds of years ago, long before the Han Chinese. The owner of he restaurant is Paiwanese and also a song-writer. Enjoy the fabulous live band while you eat. The restaurant also serves aboriginal beverages like millet wine and a passion fruit beer cocktail.
The interior and exterior of the restaurant are decorated with aboriginal artwork and handicraft
Starters: Glutinous Rice Rolls. Simple but tasty
Paiwanese salad featuring fresh, wild grown vegetables. It's tangy and refreshing, slightly reminiscent of a Thai salad.
A pork dish on sizzling hot plate.
Gulu-Gulu
Address: 2, Lane 13, Wuquan W 4th Street, Taichung City, Taiwan.
Phone: (04) 2378 3128. 10am to 2pm for lunch; 5pm to 12am for dinner
